Indian Embassy, Empost open dedicated centres for passport and visa applications

The first such office was opened in Deira on 19 February by the Consul General of India to UAE H.E. Mr. Venu Rajamony and Mr. Sultan A. Al Midfa, Chief Executive Officer of Empost, and will start receiving applications from public from Friday, 20th February. This Centre will remain open from 7 AM to 10 PM.

The rest of the 12 centres proposed under the agreement between Empost and the Indian diplomatic missions in the UAE, will open their doors for the public from 22 February. All these Centres will be open from 7 AM to 10 PM on all days of the week.

A website is set up to provide information on the various services offered and for checking the status of applications and a dedicated Call Centre to answer telephone queries and inform applicants of the status of their applications.

Their decision to outsource the collection of applications for passports and visas was prompted by a significant increase in applications over the years, leading to heavy crowds at the two missions, and causing inconvenience to the public. However, the new arrangements will enable the public to submit applications at several centres across the country, before and after their office hours, as well as on weekends.

Currently, the Indian Embassy and Consulate handle around 200,000 passport services and 63,000 visas annually. Over 4,000 people visit the Embassy and the Consulate every day to seek these services. Further, applicants can avail themselves of these services only during specific hours on working days.

However, the new arrangements will enable the public to submit applications at several centres across the country, before and after their office hours, as well as on weekends.

The opening of the dedicated centres by Empost will afford more convenience, and also ease up the application process. The Empost centres will have extended working hours on weekdays, as well as on weekends and will be capable of receiving large number of applicants daily.

Speaking at the inauguration of the centres, H.E. Mr. Venu Rajamony, Consul General of India, said:

"We are happy to to launch this major initiative through a strategic alliance with Empost. The move will go a long way towards benefiting the large Indian community in the UAE, as also other residents in the UAE who wish to visit India. The centres will be managed by skilled employees from Empost, who have been trained to complete the preliminary paperwork and other formalities related to the services and forward the applications to the Embassy or Consulate for processing. This initiative, the first of its kind, is part of our efforts to provide high-value customer service in all matters related to passports and visas."

H.E. Mr. Venu Rajamony, added: "The aim of this new process is to create a system that would provide the maximum number of people the opportunity to obtain services that are quick and convenient from the Indian Embassy and Consulate in the UAE. Arrangements for fast-track processing of applications are also available at the centres for emergency cases."

Commenting on the new service, Empost CEO Mr. Sultan Al Midfa said: "As a service provider to the major initiative undertaken by the Indian Embassy and Consulate, Empost has made great progress since signing the agreement. All of us who were involved in making this initiative a reality took great care to ensure that the facilities and services offered at these offices are of the highest standards with the main aim of providing a hassle-free experience to applicants. We would like to thank the Indian embassy and Indian consulate for reposing their trust in our ability to run these dedicated centres as an important service to the public".

Trained staff, familiar with different Indian languages will guide applicants in filling up forms. The applicants for passports and passport related services will be photographed digitally at the collection centres and hence will not have to provide photographs with their applications.

Applicants will receive back their documents via courier at their office/residence. Whenever required, the centres are also in a position to schedule appointments with the Embassy / Consulate for interviews.

A nominal service fee will be levied by Empost for each passport service and for each visa service, over and above the normal passport and visa application fees (detailed on Embassy/Consulate official websites).

While applications of passports and visas will have to be submitted at the Empost centres, attestations of documents will continue to be done as before at the Embassy/Consulate.